Precision needle-point blocker

ABSTRACT

A precisionally adjustable device for blocking needle-point which is adjustable to the size of the needle-point, which device comprises a quadrilateral frame, preferably of tubular construction, wherein adjacent sides of the frame are joined at a common corner, each of the corners being of identical construction and comprising a four-port junction or cross-fitting wherein one of the adjacent sides rigidly engages one of the ports and the other of said sides slidably engages another of said ports and extends through and beyond the opposite port to provide an extended portion, a cross-tee slidably connected to the extended portion but provided with a set screw in the crosstee so as to prevent movement by engaging the extended portion, the cross-tee being provided with a side extension having an opening therein, which extension slidably engages a jack screw, said jack screw lying in generally parallel relation with said extended portion, support means rigidly connected to the remaining port of the cross junction and provided with a portion extending in generally perpendicular relationship from said jack screw and a portion generally at right angles to said sides, the end of the jack screw being fixedly connected to the support means and tightening nut means disposed on said jack screw; whereby tightening said set screw on the extended portion and turning said nut means forces the slidable cross-tee through the cross junction and thus forces the slidable side to extend its length and tighten the needle-point, this manipulation being carried out at all four corners. Also provided is a method for stretching or blocking needle-point using the device of this invention which comprises placing the needle-point within the quadrilateral formed by the four sides, connecting the needlepoint to the four sides by pin means and then stretching the needle-point by extending each of the sides of the needle-point with the stretching device described.

United States Patent 91 Moffitt et al.

[451 Sept. 24, 1974 PRECISION NEEDLE-POINT BLOCKER [76] Inventors: Charles Rayburn Moffitt, 914

Jefferson St.; Ralph Warren Dalton, 320 Minerva Pl., both of Paducah, Ky. 42001 [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 434,203

957,561 5/1910 Jakob 38/102 1 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmLowe, King & Price 5 7] ABSTRACT A precisionally adjustable device for blocking needlepoint which is adjustable to the size of the needlepoint, which device comprises a quadrilateral frame, preferably of tubular construction, wherein adjacent sides of the frame are joined at a common corner, each of the comers being of identical construction and comprising a four-port junction or cross-fitting wherein one of the adjacent sides rigidly engages one of the ports and the other of said sides slidably engages another of said ports and extends through and beyond the opposite port to provide an extended portion, a cross-tee slidably connected to the extended portion but provided with a set screw in the cross-tee so as to prevent movement by engaging the extended portion, the cross-tee being provided with a side extension having an opening therein, which extension slidably engages a jack screw, said jack screw lying in generally parallel relation with said extended portion, support means rigidly connected to the remaining port of the cross junction and provided with a portion extending in generally perpendicular relationship from said jack screw and a portion generally at right angles to said sides, the end of the jack screw being fixedly connected to the support means and tightening nut means disposed on said jack screw; whereby tightening said set screw on the extendedportion and turning said nut means forces the slidable cross-tee through the cross junction and thus forces the slidable side to extend its length and tighten the needle-point, this manipulation being carried out at all four corners. Also provided is a method for stretching or blocking needle-point using the device of this invention which comprises placing the needle-point within the quadrilateral formed by the four sides, connecting the needle-point to the four sides by pin means and then stretching the needle-point by extending each of the sides of the needle-point with the stretching device described.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PRECISION NEEDLE-POINT BLOCKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus and method for blocking needle-point and more particularly to a device which provides means for uniform stretching of needlepoint.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is well aware of various devices and methods for stretching and otherwise operating on or manipulating various types of fabrics such as curtains, rugs and the like. Devices of this type are taught for example in US. Pat. Nos. 593,387, 1,933,565, 1,223,015 as well as US. Pat. Nos. 561,106, 863,223, 1,361,624, 1,941,810 and 2,284,492. These patents disclose various stretching devices for fabrics which are adjustable in various ways including corner adjustments in order to secure uniform stretching to the extent possible. However, none of these prior art devices appear to have found acceptance in the art particularly for the stretching of needlepoint which by its nature requires uniform tensioning of the fabric in order to obtain correct straightening and provide a work of art. The present invention provides an apparatus which is an improvement over apparatus disclosed in the above mentioned patents and is particularly suitable for the stretching or blocking of needle-point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a unique apparatus for the blocking of needle-point.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the uniform blocking of needle-point so as to provide uniform stretching in all directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for the stretching of needle-point uniformly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages there is provided by this invention a needle-point blocker which is precisionally adjustable to the size of the needle-point and extendable to provide uniform stretching in all directions, which comprises a quadrilateral frame construction wherein adjacent sides ofthe frame are joined at the common corners, with each of the corners of said construction being of substantially identical construction and comprising a four-way junction with four openings therein; wherein one of the adjacent sides rigidly engages the first opening in said four-way junction and the other of said adjacent sides is slidable within the second or adjacent openings and extends through the junction and the third opening to extend a distance beyond said third opening; a T slidably connected to said extending portion of said side, said T provided with a set screw to prevent movement of said T on the extended portion when stretching is carried out, said slidable T being further provided with an extension which slidably engages a jack screw, said jack screw being in generally parallel relation with said extended portion of the side; support means rigidly connected with the fourth opening in said four-way junction opposite the rigidly connected adjacent side, said support means being shaped generally at a right angle to said sides to provide support for said corner on a horizontal surface, the end of said jack screw being fixedly connected to said support means, and screw means disposed on said jack screw whereby turning said screw means in one direction forces said slidable T against the junction when the set screw on the ex tended portion on said side is in tightened position and thus forces the slidable side to extend its length and tighten said needle-point.

Also provided by this invention is a method for the blocking or stretching of needlepoint uniformly in all directions which comprises placing said needle-point within the four-sided device, attaching the needle-point to each of said sides by pin means and then extending each of the sides of said needle-point uniformly to achieve uniform stretching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings accompanying this application, it will be seen that FIG. 1 represents a top perspective view of the needle-point blocker of the invention showing a'needle-point in stretched position;

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged perspective view of one of the identical corners of the needle-point blocker;

FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the needle-point blocker of FIG. 1 as seen through the lines 33; and

FIG. 4 shows one of the pins by which the needlepoint is attached to the needle-point blocker.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As indicated above, this invention is concerned with a device for blocking or stretching of needle-point to achieve uniform stretching in all directions. The device is perhaps best illustrated by reference to the attached drawings wherein FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the needle-point blocker l of this invention. The blocker is generally a four-sided device having substantially identical sides which form the frame. The sides are preferably of metal or plastic tubular construction and more specifically are best constructed of metal pipe, a size of about inch being a most convenient size. As can be seen, the four substantially identical sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 have adjacent sides joined at a fourway junction 6, which junction may be described as a four-way junction having openings or ports 7, 8, 9 and 10. A inch cross-tee is suitable as the junction. As indicated above, the four junctions 6 and four sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 are identical so that a detailed description of one corner of this device should suffice as a description of the entire device, it being understood that all the adjustments in each corner will be substantially identical.

Each junction 6 is provided with openings 7 and 10 which are adapted for rigid connection. It is preferred that openings 7 and 10 be threaded with threaded end 7 being adapted to receive side 3 in rigid or tight connection. On the other hand, side 2 is slidable within opening 8, extends through the junction, out and beyond opening 9 as to provide side extension 11. Provided on side extension 11 is a slip joint 12 which may be a conventional inch T connector, which T connector is slidable on side extension 11 but is provided with a set screw 13 such as a A X 1 inch wing screw, which is adapted to be tightened down onto side extension 11 when it is desired to stretch the needle-point.

The T or slidable joint 12 is further provided in its T portion and at generally right angles to the side extension with a fixed extended portion 14, which is provided with an opening 15 therein. Jack screw 16, disposed in generally parallel relationship with side extension 1] slidably or loosely passes through opening 15. At junction 6, rigidly connected to opening 10 as by threaded means, there is provided a support means 19 which extends a short distance from junction 6 and then turns at generally a right angle 20 so as to provide support arm 21 to sit on a flat surface for that corner of the blocker. A is inch street ell having threaded thereto a if; X 3 inch post forms a preferred support means. Since each corner is provided with a support means of this type the'stretcher will then sit in a generally horizontal position. The jack screw 16 is rigidly connected as by nut means to said support means 19 so that said jack screw 16 is in a generally parallel position with respect to side extension 11. Jack screw 16 further extends through the opening 15 in extended portion 14 and is further provided with tightening nut 117 which may be a wing nut or the like which is screwed on to the jack screw 16. Spacer 18 is provided to keep the wing nut 17 from bearing against the side of portion 14. The jack screw is preferably 21 Yr inchall-threaded rod of any desired length although a length of about 8 inches is usually sufficient.

With respect to this description, it should be noted that for each of sides 2, 3, 4 and 5, one end will be rigidly connected or fixed to junction 6 whereas the opposite end will be slidable within and extend beyond the opposite junction. it should also be noted that each side extension 11 may be of any desired length although about 1 to 2 feet is satisfactory.

It will be understood, of course, from FIG. 1 and the more specific view of FIG. 2 that each of the corners are provided with substantially identical means to that described hereinabove for said one corner.

in particularly preferred embodiments of this invention all fittings or connectors as well as rod portions will be generally if; inch in size. Since moisture may be involved in the drying process, it is preferred to use galvanized pipe. The length of each side may be as desired although it has been found for most needle-point that about a 48 inches length for each of the sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 highly preferable. The slip joints discussed are easily operable when about at least .010 inch tolerance is provided between the side being slid within the joint and the sides ofthe joint. in general, however, it should be said that the tolerance should be such as to allow the slidable connections to be freely movable. The jack screw is preferably about 8 inches in length and inch diameter and completely threaded so that the adjustment can be carried out through its complete length.

Because of the nature of the jack screw and its method of adjustment, the needle-point blocker of this invention may be considered as having a micrometer adjustment on each of the four corners. which adjustment is obtained by manipulation of the adjusting nut on the jack screw.

When it is desired to use the device of this invention, it is initially adjusted so as to be about three inches wider and longer than the needle-point to be blocked. Therefore, the dimensions of the needle-point are obtained and then the device is adjusted as indicated. Thereafter, the needle-point 22 is inserted within and attached to the device by use of the pins 23 shown in FIG. 4, which pins are provided with a shank portion 24, a hook portion 25 and a needle portion 26. initially, the needle portion 26 is inserted in each corner of the needle-point and the hook portion fitted over the side near the corner to hold the needle-point in working position. This provides initial mounting of the needlepoint. Then using additional pins as necessary, pins are inserted from the top in a designated line of holes across one side about one-half inch apart as shown in positions 27 in FIG. 1 in order to provide uniform connection of the needle-point to the side.

As the next step, pins are inserted in a designated line on the opposite side of the needle-point in the same manner. At this point, it may be necessary to tighten or loosen the sides in order to obtain correct alignment. Thereafter, the pins are inserted in the other two sides in the same manner.

After the needle-point is mounted in this manner, the distance between opposite sides should be measured to make both pairs of opposite sides parallel. Any adjustment necessary to make the sides parallel is easily effected by use of the micrometer setting screw at each corner. A particularly preferred procedure to get each pair of opposite sides parallel is to adjust the corners in diagonal positions and make the necessary measurements between the shoulders of each fitting.

After the needle-point is mounted in this initial position, it is wet with water thoroughly by a spray or steam and the micrometer setting in each corner of the needle-point blocker is then placed in use by tightening down set screw 13 and turning ofthe nut 17 on the jack screw which acts to push each opposite corner a distance from its adjacent corner corresponding to the extent of stretch of the needle-point in the direction of the arrow 28. The result is the extension of sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 to extend the needle-point to the desired stretched position. In such operation, care should be taken to make sure that the sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 remain in parallel position and this may be done by making any additional necessary measurements between two sets of the parallel sides.

After the needle-point is in this position it is then tightened while in wet position by the micrometer adjustments at each corner as indicated above. the excess water allowed to drip through and allowed to dry. Drying can of course be hastened by the use of forced air and/or heat and the like.

After the needle-point is dried it may be removed from the needle-point blocker by loosening the nut 17 and set screw 13 and allowing the sides to reverse their sliding action through the junctions 6 until the needlepoint blocker is in sufficiently loose position to allow the pins to be removed from the needle-point. The needle-point is then removed and then is in stretched dried position and will be found to be a work of art uniformly stretched in the manner described according to this invention.

The invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, however it is not to be considered as limited thereto as obvious variations thereon will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A precisionally adjustable device for blocking needle-point which is adjustable to the size of the needlepoint and expandable to stretch the same, which device comprises a four-sided frame to which said needlepoint can be attached by cooperating hooks, and wherein adjacent sides of the frame are joined at common corners, each of said corners being of identical construction, said device comprising four elongated members forming said sides, a cross-junction having at least three opening on each member, one of said members of each pair of said adjacent sides rigidly engaging a first opening in said cross-junction and the other member of said adjacent sides slidably engaging a second opening substantially perpendicular to the first, said other member extending through and beyond said second opening and slidably through and beyond a third opening opposite said second opening to provide an extended portion of said other member, lockable means on said other member adjacent said crossjunction, and adjustable means extending between said lockable means and said cross-junction, whereby the other member of each of said adjacent sides may be adjusted at each of said four corners to move said one member relative to the opposite side of the frame to effect precision stretching of said needle-point in all four directions.

2. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 1 wherein said lockable means-comprises a crosstee slidably movable on said other member but provided with a set screw therein so as to prevent movement thereon when tightened.

3. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 2 wherein said cross member is mounted on said extended portion, said cross-tee being provided with a side extension having an opening therein, said adjustment means including a jack screw slidably engaging said extension, said jack screw lying in a generally parallel relation with said extended portion.

4. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 3 wherein is further provided a fourth opening in said cross-junction opposite said first opening, support means rigidly connected to the fourth opening of the cross-junction and provided with a portion extending in generally perpendicular relationship to said jack screw and a portion generally at right angles to said sides, the end of the jack screw being fixedly connected to the support means, tightening nut means disposed on said jack screw whereby tighteningsaid set screw on the extended portion and turning said nut means on the jack screw forces the slidable cross-tee toward the crossjunction and thus actuating said other member to extend its length and stretch the needle-point, the adjustment being effected at each of the four identical corners.

5. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 1 wherein said members are metal tubular pipe.

6. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 5 wherein said first opening in said cross-junction is a connection.

7. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 6 wherein said second and third openings of said cross-junctions are unthreaded ports having a slidable 

1. A precisionally adjustable device for blocking needle-point which is adjustable to the size of the needle-point and expaNdable to stretch the same, which device comprises a foursided frame to which said needle-point can be attached by cooperating hooks, and wherein adjacent sides of the frame are joined at common corners, each of said corners being of identical construction, said device comprising four elongated members forming said sides, a cross-junction having at least three opening on each member, one of said members of each pair of said adjacent sides rigidly engaging a first opening in said crossjunction and the other member of said adjacent sides slidably engaging a second opening substantially perpendicular to the first, said other member extending through and beyond said second opening and slidably through and beyond a third opening opposite said second opening to provide an extended portion of said other member, lockable means on said other member adjacent said crossjunction, and adjustable means extending between said lockable means and said cross-junction, whereby the other member of each of said adjacent sides may be adjusted at each of said four corners to move said one member relative to the opposite side of the frame to effect precision stretching of said needle-point in all four directions.
 2. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 1 wherein said lockable means comprises a cross-tee slidably movable on said other member but provided with a set screw therein so as to prevent movement thereon when tightened.
 3. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 2 wherein said cross member is mounted on said extended portion, said cross-tee being provided with a side extension having an opening therein, said adjustment means including a jack screw slidably engaging said extension, said jack screw lying in a generally parallel relation with said extended portion.
 4. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 3 wherein is further provided a fourth opening in said cross-junction opposite said first opening, support means rigidly connected to the fourth opening of the cross-junction and provided with a portion extending in generally perpendicular relationship to said jack screw and a portion generally at right angles to said sides, the end of the jack screw being fixedly connected to the support means, tightening nut means disposed on said jack screw whereby tightening said set screw on the extended portion and turning said nut means on the jack screw forces the slidable cross-tee toward the cross-junction and thus actuating said other member to extend its length and stretch the needle-point, the adjustment being effected at each of the four identical corners.
 5. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 1 wherein said members are metal tubular pipe.
 6. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 5 wherein said first opening in said cross-junction is a connection.
 7. A device for blocking needle-point according to claim 6 wherein said second and third openings of said cross-junctions are unthreaded ports having a slidable fit with said other member. 